Canvassing and the City

Amhran Nua

From Niall O'Brolcháin... in an official postage paid Seanad Éireann envelope.

I think there must be a competition between them to see who can make the most brazen use of public resources for their own personal benefit.

kodute

Got the same one. Is it the letter with a code to text if you want him to visit your house?
Struck me as a bit cowardly tbh, he won't visit all the houses in the area only the ones that bother to invite him. The people who don't invite him are more likely to have critical things to say about him or his party.

PCPhoto

you could always invite .... to then attack (with questions)

snubbleste

kodute wrote: »

Got the same one. Is it the letter with a code to text if you want him to visit your house?
Struck me as a bit cowardly tbh, he won't visit all the houses in the area only the ones that bother to invite him. The people who don't invite him are more likely to have critical things to say about him or his party.

Is the text number a premium number?

Lockstep

kodute wrote: »

Got the same one. Is it the letter with a code to text if you want him to visit your house?
Struck me as a bit cowardly tbh, he won't visit all the houses in the area only the ones that bother to invite him. The people who don't invite him are more likely to have critical things to say about him or his party.

Doesn't surprise me hugely. Most ooliticians are only going to really canvass housing estates as they can get to so many houses. If you're in a rural area then they're unlikely to call to your house unless they know ther'll be a response.

mikemac

kodute wrote: »

Struck me as a bit cowardly tbh, he won't visit all the houses in the area only the ones that bother to invite him.

There are over 80,000 people in the Galway West electorate

It just isn't possible to visit all the houses in the area
No candidate in Ireland will manage it

Amhran Nua

It was the use of official postage paid Seanad Éireann stationery in his private election campaign I was more drawing attention to. It lends undue weight to the message inside it, and hasn't got anything to do with the Seanad.

Fey!

We have gotten a few from Healy-Eames on official Seanad letterhead.

Her canvas crew arrived to the door a few nights ago. I asked what her views were on same sex marriage, to be told that there was legislation going through for civil partnerships soon. They skillfully avoided telling me what HER viewpoint was.

They said if I didn't like her that they had 3 other candidates. 2 are on the city council and 1 on the county council. When asked what they would do about their commitments in their current roles if they were elected, I was told that there would be a local by-election.

Surely if politicians have been elected to a local role (or appointed to the Seanad), they should be committed to that role. If they want to go for a national position, shouldn't they be forced to resign and have the by-election before the general election so the positions are filled by people who will work for those who elected them?

If the above is too confusing, it's basically "if they want a national seat, make them resign the local seat before they are put up for election".

And if they are public sector workers, forget leave-of-absence while they play politics; take the plunge into the deep end or get out of the pool.

Finally, a teacher, a TD, a minister and a taoiseach all work for the state, so at the end only 1 pension, not 3 or 4.

Amhran Nua

Fey! wrote: »

We have gotten a few from Healy-Eames on official Seanad letterhead.

Yeah, I'd view that as basically lifting stationery from the office for your own personal use. Every cent spent on those postage paid envelopes came straight from our taxes, so Niall is basically telling people he has no problem appropriating public resources for his own personal benefit. If it was an official message from the Seanad in his capacity as a Senator, I'd have no problem with it. But its not.

kodute

Derek Nolan and Hildegarde Naughton called to my door. Personally.

O'Brolcháin wants a personal invitation to call over. Feck that. Grow a spine and come show your face at the doorsteps of people who have suffered because of where the country is.


@Amhran Nua I completely agree, but when he is sitting in the same chamber as Ivor Callely, swiping a few envelopes must seem like a non-issue. :rolleyes:

paulgalway

I know some friends who are texting O'Brolcháin to get him to call to the door; they are then going to tell him to his face he & the green's are a complete waste of space and please f*ck off.

Madame Razz

I missed the first round of canvassers at the weekend.

I was disgusted, I've even been training the dogs what to do when they arrive at the door:(:p:D

snubbleste

Madame Razz wrote: »

I missed the first round of canvassers at the weekend.
I was disgusted, I've even been training the dogs what to do when they arrive at the door:(:p:D

Maybe it was just some slovakian chap putting a 'sorry i missed you' leaflet through the door?
Some of the local representatives have been known to do this.
Keep those dogs starved :cool:

cats.life

if we got any of that rubbish in my letter box id go out of my way and put it back in their postbox..

PomBear

I'm fairly sure this is unconstitutional and promotes inequality of elected candidates who can use Oireachtas' free facilities over unelected candidates that can't.

They are not allowed do this under the case of Kelly v Minister for the Environment [2002] 4 I.R. 191

Amhran Nua

PomBear wrote: »

I'm fairly sure this is unconstitutional and promotes inequality of elected candidates who can use Oireachtas' free facilities over unelected candidates that can't.

They are not allowed do this under the case of Kelly v Minister for the Environment [2002] 4 I.R. 191

Maybe he should call around to every house they were delivered to and ask for them back?

Mrs OBumble

kodute wrote: »

Got the same one. Is it the letter with a code to text if you want him to visit your house?
Struck me as a bit cowardly tbh, he won't visit all the houses in the area only the ones that bother to invite him.

Got 'em too.

One for me, and one for Mr justMary. If my number was 3456, then his was 3457 We considered texting some other numbers a bit lower in the sequence eg 3446, just so he could go and visit some lucky peoples. Decided not to waste the texts though

(made-up numbers, BTW).


In fairness, our front-door is pretty inaccessible, so we're not likely to see any canvassers unless we summon them to us. I can understand why a candidate who wants the inner city vote would try this approach.

Mike Cubbard

If I missed anyone when I called or if you are inaccesable please give me a call and i'll meet up for a chat if you like. I want to get as much face to face canvassing done before polling day !

brianthebard

PomBear wrote: »

I'm fairly sure this is unconstitutional and promotes inequality of elected candidates who can use Oireachtas' free facilities over unelected candidates that can't.

They are not allowed do this under the case of Kelly v Minister for the Environment [2002] 4 I.R. 191

Text him that info. Have to say this sort of thing is par for the course but its especially bemusing when its the Green Party who are acting in this way, after the past 4 years of harping on about corporate donations and election posters, etc, etc.

_Whimsical_

PomBear wrote: »

I'm fairly sure this is unconstitutional and promotes inequality of elected candidates who can use Oireachtas' free facilities over unelected candidates that can't.

They are not allowed do this under the case of Kelly v Minister for the Environment [2002] 4 I.R. 191

Funny,I thought this too. However a few weeks ag, immediately after the election was called,I heard a journalist on the radio saying he'd spent ages wandering around Leinster House looking for quotes but could find no politicians in any of their usual haunts. Then he mentioned that someone told him to go to the stationary office where he foundl loads of TDs queuing up for their free stationary for the election! He just mentioned it as a humourous aside to his report but I was surprised that it was so accepted that they just helped themselves to what they wanted for their campaigns.

redsteveireland

We got a flyer hand delivered from Lorraine Higgins and written in pen was "sorry i missed you", now I don't really mind it except I was inside looking at her and she didn't attempt to ring the bell.

Sponge Bob

redsteveireland wrote: »

We got a flyer hand delivered from Lorraine Higgins and written in pen was "sorry i missed you", now I don't really mind it except I was inside looking at her and she didn't attempt to ring the bell.

I usually go out the door and roar down the street at them if they try that one on me.

Then they have to traipse back to hear a lecture on manners and etiquette ....followed by a discussion on 'policy' . Lorraines grasp of mathematics on Vincent Browne the other week was ...shall we say....rather inadequate.

Discodog

My neighbour has a long front drive. At the gate is a sign saying "no canvassers". Half way down the drive is a sign saying "can't you fecking read ?". At the last election he had great fun watching them ignore the first sign & then turn back smartly at the second.

Canvasser

paulgalway wrote: »

I know some friends who are texting O'Brolcháin to get him to call to the door; they are then going to tell him to his face he & the green's are a complete waste of space and please f*ck off.

well that's very constructive :rolleyes:

Madame Razz wrote: »

I missed the first round of canvassers at the weekend.

I was disgusted, I've even been training the dogs what to do when they arrive at the door:(:p:D

I hope you get charged by the guards if you go through with what you are implying.

Discodog wrote: »

My neighbour has a long front drive. At the gate is a sign saying "no canvassers". Half way down the drive is a sign saying "can't you fecking read ?". At the last election he had great fun watching them ignore the first sign & then turn back smartly at the second.

your 'neighbour' sounds very ignorant to be honest.

So far it's been about 50-50 between people who have the manners to listen to you on the doorstep and people who only want to shout personal abuse at you. Ye honestly would not believe how rude some members of the galway public are!

snubbleste

Which party are you canvassing for?

A 'no canvassing' sign should be respected at all times not just when you feel like it. Somebody went to the effort to put it up.

Head The Wall

If you're canvassing for FF or the greens I could well believe how rude they are.

PomBear

Anyone have some of this literature that they can scan up?

Canvasser

Head The Wall wrote: »

If you're canvassing for FF or the greens I could well believe how rude they are.

I'd say i'm canvassing more for an individual rather than a party. Either way people should have the manners to listen to what one says to them on the doorsteps.

pleasant Co.

Canvasser wrote: »

I'd say i'm canvassing more for an individual rather than a party.

Ok, is this individual more associated to one of the collapsed coalition parties than the opposition parties?

Canvasser

Mactard wrote: »

Ok, is this individual more associated to one of the collapsed coalition parties than the opposition parties?

he was not a member of the current government. he is a current city councillor. either way that's not relevant to the point i was making about the poor behaviour and attitudes of some of the galway public towards politicians.

ben.schlomo

Its quite obvious that the public at large have had enough of politicians so im not surprised in people's reactions. I personally wouldn't abuse anyone canvassing but i also wouldn't answer the door, i know who i will vote for and dont need to engage with canvassers to help me decide.

Amhran Nua

ben.schlomo wrote: »

I personally wouldn't abuse anyone canvassing but i also wouldn't answer the door, i know who i will vote for and dont need to engage with canvassers to help me decide.

This is the thing really, most people know the score well enough - many politicians seem to treat canvassing as cramming before the exam, and even then have as little as possible to do with personally meeting "the great unwashed" as they can; it doesn't work like that. On the other hand, undirected anger at everything is counterproductive, somebody has to fix the mess.

pleasant Co.

Canvasser wrote: »

either way that's not relevant to the point i was making about the poor behaviour and attitudes of some of the galway public towards politicians

I am not arguing your point, relevance to it is of no relevance to what I said.

Canvasser wrote: »

he was not a member of the current government. he is a current city councillor.

I didn't ask if he was a member of the current government, I asked if "this individual [is] more associated to one of the collapsed coalition parties than the opposition parties"

Discodog

Canvasser wrote: »

well that's very constructive

your 'neighbour' sounds very ignorant to be honest.

So far it's been about 50-50 between people who have the manners to listen to you on the doorstep and people who only want to shout personal abuse at you. Ye honestly would not believe how rude some members of the galway public are!

My neighbour is exercising his right to have who he chooses on his doorstep.

All the parties will make promises that they will end up breaking - or that they will conveniently forget about. Will an Independent state who they will go into coalition with - No.

If you perceive voters as "rude" then you clearly have no understanding of the hurt & pain that is being felt all over Ireland. If politicians had the decency to treat us with respect then we would reciprocate.

Why should people listen when we know that your words are meaningless ?. Irish politicians break election promises with no consequences. They are never called to account. No one remembers the previous promises by the time the next election comes around.

Having spent time in the UK during elections two things stand out. The English don't promise the world & poster are used to advertise policies rather than being wasted showing faces.

The campaign managers here are staggeringly ignorant. They believe that all you have to do is flood the street with mugshots. It's all about the candidate being a good man & supporting local issues rather than being able to run the country.

biko

Since this thread has moved beyond the initial OP but we can still discuss I've changed the name.

Canvassing in the forum is not allowed, and by that I mean signing up to promote a certain politician/party Anyone who claims to be a certain politician etc must first get in tough with the admins for verification (mail hello@boards.ie). Once they are verified they can answer questions.

There is a General Election forum here so this thread is for local people about local issues.

Canvasser

Mactard wrote: »

I am not arguing your point, relevance to it is of no relevance to what I said.



I didn't ask if he was a member of the current government, I asked if "this individual [is] more associated to one of the collapsed coalition parties than the opposition parties"

I don't think i'm allowed to say who it is judging by the moderators last post. either way the guy comes from a good galway family and would be a breath of fresh air in the new Dáil, albeit unfortunately it might be on the opposition benches it's looking like.

Bad old weather tonight so I think we've been given the night off

Discodog

Canvasser wrote: »

either way the guy comes from a good galway family

Oh Dear - surely we have had enough of the "comes from a good family" as a reason to vote for someone.

R28

Canvasser wrote: »

. either way the guy comes from a good galway family .

Could you perhaps define what it is that constitutes 'a good galway family' and how this is any way relevant to someone's potential ability to be an exemplar of a legislator in our national chamber?

I have no idea who you are talking about BTW, so even if I knew what defined 'a good galway family' , I wouldn't know if this person fits that definition.

Now I'm off to figure if I'm from 'a good galway family'. Dad was born and bred in Bohermore, but Mam is from Mayo and I spent some time as a child living in Furbo. I wonder if that makes us good enough to be a good galway family?

paulgalway

Canvasser wrote: »

I'd say i'm canvassing more for an individual rather than a party. Either way people should have the manners to listen to what one says to them on the doorsteps.

So, we should listen to what the canvessers/polticans say when they call to our door?

Did the politicans listen to the thousands who protested in Dublin and else where.

Did they listen when Merrill Lynch, who were hired by the gov., advised against the bank guarantee?

Have you been listening? have you a record of all the issues raised by the people you have spoken to on your canvass?

randylonghorn

Canvasser wrote: »

Either way people should have the manners to listen to what one says to them on the doorsteps.

Why?

It's their doorstep.

You are the uninvited intruder.

Lockstep

redsteveireland wrote: »

We got a flyer hand delivered from Lorraine Higgins and written in pen was "sorry i missed you", now I don't really mind it except I was inside looking at her and she didn't attempt to ring the bell.

Usually do the same thing myself when I'm canvassing (Sorry we missed you etc), although would never do it unless I genuinely did try the bell first.

Lot of doorbells out there don't work.